Vol. 506 No. 1
80 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to extend the students' employment scheme to third level students pursing a certificate course with the intention of going on to complete a diploma or degree programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14759/99]
The purpose of the students summer jobs scheme is to provide income support during the summer holiday period to less well off third level students who are disqualified from receiving unemployment assistance and are unable to obtain summer work.
Students who have completed certificate courses are entitled to apply for unemployment assistance during the summer period although they may be intending to progress to diploma or degree courses. They are, therefore, outside the scope of the scheme. The question of extending the scheme to other groups of students would be a matter for consideration in a budgetary context.
